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Portland Timbers reportedly trade star Evander to FC Cincinnati for $12 million, with RC Lens midfielder David Da Costa set to replace him

The Portland Timbers have reportedly traded star attacker Evander to FC Cincinnati for a fee in the region of $12 million. The deal is for a cash fee + add-ons, becoming a club-record fee for Portland and instantly becoming one of the biggest outbound transfers by an MLS side since the league's founding.FCC will use the <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-us/lists/mls-2025-roster-rules-explained-how-new-cash-for-player-trade-system-could-affect-rosters-what-new-changes-mean-for-2025-season/blt96def511279161e5" target="_self">Cash for Players </a>mechanism that was enabled in January by MLS to pay for the Brazilian.The Timbers already have a replacement for Evander lined up, with the Western Conference side set to pay $6 million for the services of RC Lens attacker David Da Costa.Both deals are only able to happen due to a domino effect of <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-us/lists/2023-mls-mvp-lucho-acosta-reportedly-traded-from-fc-cincinnati-to-fc-dallas-for-usd5m-fee/blt61af11ef300313c7" target="_self">Lucho Acosta's reported transfer from FCC to FC Dallas</a>, opening a DP spot in the Queen City for Evander, and one for Da Costa in Portland.<a href="https://www.givemesport.com/fc-cincinnati-agree-transfer-evander-portland-timbers-sources/" target="_self">GIVEMESPORT </a>was the first to report both deals.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Evander is a genuine star in MLS, and had a record best year in 2024, with 15 goals and 15 assists.Before his time in Portland, Evander played for FC Midtjylland in Denmark, where he played in both the UEFA Europa League and UEFA Champions League with the Danish side.The addition of Evander in the Queen City is another building block to their incredible offseason, where they've already spent <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-us/news/fc-cincinnati-record-signing-kevin-denkey-big-money-mls-move/blt433dc4c9d30c5943" target="_self">$16.2 million on striker Kevin Denkey from Belgian side Genk.</a>Da Costa, meanwhile, is already in Portland finalizing his contract. A member of Lens' academy, the 24-year-old is a Portuguese winger/midfielder who can provide versatility in the final third for manager Phil Neville. He scored four goals and recorded three assists for the club in 2023-24, playing a crucial role in helping them secure UCL soccer in 2024-25. However, he has only played 349 minutes in Ligue 1 action this season, resulting in the move stateside.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Portland also secured the services of striker Kevin Kelsy from Shakhtar Donetsk this offseason for a reported fee of $6 million, after he spent 2024 on loan in MLS at FCC. They paid the club up to $175k in Allocation Money for his MLS rights.

DID YOU KNOW?

Both Da Costa and Evander will look to put pen to paper this week on their contracts ahead of the start of the 2025 MLS campaign later this month.Portland debuts against the Vancouver Whitecaps on Feb. 23, while FCC take on the New York Red Bulls on Feb. 22. However, before that, the Queen City debut in the CONCACAF Champions Cup, where they will take on FC Motagua over two legs on Feb. 19 and Feb. 26.

WHAT NEXT?

Portland Timbers reportedly trade star Evander to FC Cincinnati for $12 million, with RC Lens midfielder David Da Costa set to replace him | Goal.com

Da Costa will cost a reported $6M, while Evander departs after a career-best season in the Pacific Northwest